Amman, Jan. 8 (Petra) -- His Majesty King Abdullah II hosted the first Jordan-European Union Summit in Amman on Thursday, with the participation of European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Speaking at the top of the expanded meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace, His Majesty welcomed the EU leaders, noting the summit’s significance as a key milestone in the long-standing partnership between Jordan and the EU, and its role in strengthening ties rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to regional stability and prosperity.
During the meeting, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, the King said the summit builds on the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership agreement signed last year, which serves as a strong foundation for deepening political dialogue and expanding economic cooperation to address current challenges and capitalise on future opportunities.
His Majesty noted that the summit represents an opportunity to reaffirm the shared commitment to strengthening the partnership between Jordan and the EU, and translate the strategic framework into concrete outcomes that serve the peoples and wider regions of both sides.
The King expressed appreciation for the EU’s support to Jordan’s modernisation efforts, emphasising the Kingdom’s readiness to advance cooperation with the EU in key priority areas, including security, defence, education, and youth empowerment.
"Our partnership is also vital in supporting sustainable growth, job creation, and innovation, by strengthening economic resilience and expanding cooperation in trade and investment," His Majesty added.
The King expressed Jordan’s anticipation for the Jordan-EU Investment Conference to be held in April, which aims to strengthen economic and investment partnerships between the two sides.
Speaking about the situation in the region, His Majesty emphasised that the Jordan-EU partnership continues to be a major positive contributor to efforts to restore stability to the region, de-escalate tensions, and work towards peace.
For his part, European Council President António Costa affirmed that the signing of the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership agreement last year was a pivotal moment in relations between the EU and Jordan.
"Bilateral relations are strong and can only get stronger moving forward," Costa said, explaining that the agreement is the tangible result of these relations.
Speaking about the situation in Gaza, Costa commended Jordan’s efforts to address the humanitarian crisis through air and land corridors, noting that the humanitarian situation continues to demand urgent action.
He affirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Jordan’s economic resilience and stability, expressing his anticipation for the joint investment conference to be held later this year.
For her part, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that His Majesty is a key partner for Europe in the Middle East, praising his pivotal role as a cornerstone of regional stability.
Von der Leyen explained that relations between the EU and Jordan are "built on stability, on security, but also on prosperity," adding "in times of growing geopolitical challenges, it is good to know that the European Union and Jordan stand side-by-side, because this is what friends do." She noted that the summit affirms the evolution of bilateral relations from a vision to a comprehensive strategic partnership, one based on political relations, economic stability, regional stability, and support for refugees.
Von der Leyen highlighted the importance of investment as a key component of the economic relationship between the two sides, noting that the EU aims to increase investments in the Kingdom to 1.4 billion euros. She emphasised the significance of the upcoming investment conference in this regard.
The summit also covered key regional and international developments.
Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan, Jordan’s Ambassador to Belgium Yousef Bataineh, and a number of European officials attended the summit.
//Petra// AJ
